You can have a very good Aruba trip without renting a car, and plenty of people do: stay on Palm Beach, walk to the piers and restaurants, take the bus to Oranjestad, and let the tours pick you up for the far side of the island. This plan shows exactly how the week works, what it costs compared with a rental, and the three moments where a taxi is worth it.
- Best base
- Palm Beach (walkable) or Eagle Beach (bus and short taxis)
- Public transport
- Arubus L10 and L10A along the hotel road to Oranjestad
- Taxis
- Fixed zone rates, no meter; agree the fare first
- Tours
- Almost all include hotel pickup
- Rides you will want
- Airport transfer, one Savaneta dinner, one Baby Beach day
Tours with hotel pickup: no car needed
How getting around works without a car
| Trip | How | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Airport to hotel | Taxi or pre-booked transfer | 15-25 minutes; see the airport transfer guide |
| Palm Beach ↔ Oranjestad | Arubus L10 | Frequent, cheap, air-conditioned; buy a card or pay the driver |
| Palm Beach ↔ Eagle Beach | Bus or 10-minute taxi | Same bus line |
| Snorkel coast (Malmok, Boca Catalina, Arashi) | Catamaran, or a taxi and a return time | The boats stop at the best spots anyway |
| North coast, Natural Pool, Arikok | Jeep or 4×4 tour with pickup (UTVs cannot enter Arikok) | No sensible alternative |
| Baby Beach and San Nicolas | Taxi with an agreed return, or a south-coast tour | The one day a rental would be cheaper |
| Restaurants in Noord | Taxi, or walk from Palm Beach | Most are under 10 minutes from the strip |
The week
Day 1: Palm Beach on foot
Check in, swim in front of the hotel, walk the strip at sunset, dinner within five minutes of your room.
Day 2: Catamaran morning
The snorkel cruise leaves from the Palm Beach piers, a short walk from most hotels; Eagle Beach guests choose a sail with pickup. Afternoon on the beach.
Day 3: Oranjestad by bus
Arubus to the capital: the old town, the market, lunch, and back by mid-afternoon. See the Oranjestad guide. If you are a Renaissance guest, this is your Flamingo Beach day; if not, see the day pass guide.
Day 4: Jeep tour
Hotel pickup, the north coast, the Natural Pool, back by early afternoon. UTV tours for drivers; jeep tours for everyone else. Sunset sail tonight if you want it.
Day 5: Baby Beach by taxi
Agree a round-trip fare with a driver the day before, with a pickup time at the beach. Lunch at the snack bar, murals in San Nicolas on the way back. Or book a south-coast tour that does the same route.
Day 6: Eagle Beach day
Bus or taxi, a palapa if you are early, nothing else planned. Dinner on the sand behind the beach; book it on day 1.
Day 7: Last swim, airport
Pre-booked transfer, extra time for US pre-clearance.
What it costs vs renting
Add up the airport transfer both ways, the Baby Beach taxi day, two or three dinner taxis and bus fares, and a Palm Beach week without a car usually costs about the same as a compact rental in high season and less in low season. The savings vanish if you stay on Eagle Beach and taxi to dinner every night, or if you want more than one far-side day. The car rental guide has the full comparison.
Tours that replace the car
Island tours with hotel pickup
Boats from the Palm Beach piers
Where to stay if you will not have a car
Walkable Palm Beach bases
Compare live rates and availability for stays in Palm Beach. Prices match booking direct.
Check live hotel rates🌴 Rather go private? ISLA’s private jeep tours visit the Natural Pool, caves and hidden beaches with just your group, hotel pick-up included and no time limits. Private tours from $399 →
🚗 Changed your mind? Airport car rental starts at $50/day with local partners.
Quick answers
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🚗 Changed your mind about a car?
See the whole island in one day with our self-drive loop, then reserve a car with our partner Triple D.
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